Love Island weather alert as ‘50mph winds’ batter South Africa villa

Love Island’s new villa in South Africa has reportedly been hit by strong winds.

New host Maya Jama kicks off Monday night’s series return as the new contestants move in, and filming has already gone underway.

Jama, 28, has been seen in teasers for the first episode riding a helicopter into the luxury villa, equipped with a rugby pitch and swimming pool, before greeting the Islanders.

Her grand entrance was slightly hampered by gale force winds which blew through the residence, threatening the continuation of filming, according to reports.

An inside source told The Sun: “Every department was affected — sound, lighting, cameras, wardrobe.

Maya Jama: Love Island 2023

“None of the Islanders expected to be shivering around the fire pit either, but it came into its own.”

The new contestants for the second winter series of Love Island were revealed last week, and include Tik Tok farmer Will Young, Owen Warner’s ex-girlfriend Lana Jenkins, and airport security officer Shaq Muhammad.

Monday night’s show will introduce the first major twist of the series as the first bombshell will be voted in by viewers.

For the first time also, the Islanders will be stripped of their phones and their social media accounts will be disabled completely, in a decision made by ITV to protect contestants from “the adverse effects of social media”.

ITV announced that the contestants’ accounts will remain “dormant” and they will receive “guidance and training” on “mutually respectful behaviour”, following the major backlash received about bullying on the show last year.

The contestants will also have access to resource links prior to meeting each other, that help them “identify negative behaviours in relationships” and “understand the behaviour patterns associated with controlling and coercive behaviour”.

Love Island Winter 2023 Contestants

These requirements have been brought in under ITV’s duty of care measures for 2023.

Contestants will also be given the opportunity to be trained in “inclusive language”, which covers disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggressions.

Viewers can tune in to watch the new winter series of Love Island as it launches tonight on ITV2 at 9pm.